Baltimore Architects Pick Five Buildings That Inspire

Architect Walter Schamu Stands in front of his pick: the Marbury Building in Mt. Washington. Photo by Steve Ruark.

Baltimore’s vital role in American history, its mix of Northern and Southern cultures and its rich architectural heritage present themselves daily in brick and stone, glass and steel. We asked five city architects to name their favorite local buildings, with the caveat that the building cannot be one that they have worked on. Their picks are an ornate holy shrine in Mount Vernon; a museum that pays tribute to Baltimore’s railroad legacy; an ultra-modern office building in Mt. Washington; a downtown Art Deco skyscraper, and a former drive-in restaurant that brings back childhood memories.

The architects tell us in their own words why the buildings they picked stand out. They remind us that buildings are more than just functional structures, but, in the words of one architect, places that bring people together with lasting significance.